Hello Everyone ....

It was indeed a day of firsts. The first time I've walked up to Polegate wearing my Games Maker uniform. As soon as I got on the platform, a woman came up to me and said "I thought I was the only one down here". She's from Stone Cross and was going to see a rehearsal of the Opening ceremony so wasn't dressed up. It was the first time that I've been approached by three people on the train who wanted to know where I was going. It was my first shift as a Games Maker in the Olympic Park. And the first time I've had an elderly Japanese woman come up to me and ask if she could have her picture taken with me.

This was in Westfield Shopping Centre which is in within spitting distance of the Olympic Park. It's absolutely crawling with people in uniforms of every type. Someone kindly took the photo of the two of us and I'd love to be there when she's showing her photos to her friends back home and someone says "Who's that?". Sure she'll shake her head and say "Haven't got a clue". And then she'll probably delete it. Such is life ....

It was also a first for me on the bendy-bus. And indeed a first for the bendy-bus drivers themselves. The Olympic Park has got its own transport infrastructure and this was their first time in there. Simple job, learn how to get to the OHC from MP1. I'm feeling that to get to grips with these blogs, you're going to have to learn a bit of Olympic-speak and I'll try and help you. [This is of course the blind leading the blind]. Basically, it's a shuttle service between MP [Marketing Partners] 1 - the place they're dropped off - and OHC [the Olympic Hospitality Centre]. These important Marketing People have all got suites there along with other VIPs. When we were looking at the OHC [see, you're getting the hang of this already aren't you?] last week in our final chunk of training we could stroll around the front and have a look in. But no more. I think we're seen as riff-raff now and have to scuttle around an alleyway in the back.

Anyway back to the bendy-buses. When the drivers were confident they could get from MP1 to OHC [occasionally via the Shuttle Head] we were ready and off we went. Coaches arrived with MPs in them, I smiled, pointed the way and that was it really. Not much more I can tell you about what I did but I do want to ask you a question. As I've already implied, London 2012 has developed its own language and set of acronyms. You already know two - OHC and MP1. What do you reckon "FA" stands for? No, not what you're thinking. It "Functional Area". I'm in the Transport FA and I think my job is to smile a lot and try to be helpful.

I could bang on about my job there but I think it would be missing the point. It really was an amazing day from beginning to end. Beautiful blue sky, sun and a happy - almost carnival - atmosphere. I kept pinching myself as I went around the Olympic Park because it's all so unbelievable. A quick note to finish on. Tonight was the second technical rehearsal of the Opening Ceremony. I was reading something that said it would start at 812pm. That struck me as quite an odd time. Someone clearly felt sorry for me and whispered "812pm is 2012" and the penny dropped.

That's it for now then. Photos on tomorrow I hope. Will be back on Friday with more gripping yarns [from MP1], OHC or wherever I happen to be .....]

Take care

Ken

PS Take your point about knowing where London is Paula. So I'll try and move the thing around a bit on the map to show where London 2012 is happening. Hopefully now Cardiff